Stripped Bounty (20 page)

Rosie nodded, hands behind her back, sliding her mouth up and down his prick. He kept hold of her hair, guiding her, urging her, controlling how deep she took him. She was good. So fucking good at sucking his cock, he knew he’d come for her in less than the five-minute time limit he’d given her. With each thrust, she took him to the back of her throat, her saliva making his shaft slicker with each pass.

Moaning, she looked up at him, a dazed expression in her eyes. Badger’s orgasm crawled up his spine at the sight of her lips stretched tightly around his shaft, her cheeks hollowed as she sucked and he drove in and out of her mouth. “Goddamn. Building it for you, baby. Draw it out of me. You’re going to swallow every drop, aren’t you?”

She nodded and he drove hard and fast into her mouth, pressing her down on his cock. Badger could feel her throat contracting around the head as he held her there. She took it, all he gave her, and kept her hands behind her back the whole time. Jesus, she never ceased to blow his mind. “Fuck! That’s my woman. Your cunt is soaked right now, isn’t it? You love when I gag you on my dick. So fucking hot. I love it.” Badger sucked in a strangled breath as his balls drew up tight, his orgasm rushing up on him. He pulled her back, sliding his shaft all the way out so only the head remained between her swollen lips and he gripped his length with his free hand. “Suck it. Hard.”

She gazed at him, her eyes filled with tears from each time she gagged a little on his prick, and did exactly what he demanded. She sucked. Hard. Perfect.

Fucking hell, he loved her—

With his grip tight on his shaft, Badger’s orgasm exploded out of him and he straightened from his slouch on the sofa. Waves of his climax rippled through him, his shaft pulsing hard as he filled her mouth, spurting down her throat. She swallowed, whimpering as she sucked, shifting her hips. With his grip still tight in her hair, he pulled her off his cock-head.

She let out a loud moan and he stroked his length, spurting down her chin and throat, as his come dripped from her lips. “Oh yeah, baby. All for you.”

Badger released her, barely able to catch his breath, and collapsed against the back of the couch. Rosie bent forward and licked up the shaft, cleaning the remains of his climax. When she was done, she rested her cheek on his hip and he smoothed his hand over the top of her head.

The doorbell rang and Rosie let out a little giggle. “Guess I made it.”

“I didn’t doubt you would. Mouth like you got? Baby, you know just how to work me.” He smiled down at her. “Best go clean up. I’ll grab the door.”

“Yes, sir.” She shifted to the side.

Badger stood and helped her to her feet. After giving her a soft kiss on the lips and then the forehead, he tucked himself back in his jeans and headed for the door. Take-out, beer, and a movie beside his woman. Nothing better. With a smile, Badger pulled his wallet from his back pocket and opened the door.

The woman he just told himself he loved.
Wow…

B
adger was running late getting
out of the bar. Some asshole had started a fight. One of his bouncers got his nose busted in the scuffle…shit had been a mess. He pulled his gun from the filing cabinet and slid the holster on his belt. It was already after five p.m., and he’d promised Rosie that he’d be home by four.

She’d sent him off that morning with a long as hell grocery list, which included everything they were out of, plus some additional things she wanted to cook. The woman was going to be pissed as hell, and considering they’d just made up, he was not looking forward to the fit he knew he’d have to deal with.

He’d tried to call the house line just after four to let her know he’d be awhile, but she hadn’t answered. Probably in the shower, or working out on the back patio, earbuds stuck in her ears. After one last look around the office, Badger made his way out the door and the back exit.

When he’d finished at the grocery store, he tried the house line again, and again, got no answer. Okay, so maybe she was more pissed than he’d figured. Dammit. Badger headed for home, grumbling to himself the whole drive.

Once there, he backed the truck in the driveway, and hit the garage door opener. Christ, she hadn’t even turned on the exterior lights for him. Pissed might be an understatement. He should’ve gotten her some flowers. Drawing in a deep breath, in preparation for the coming drama filled display, Badger propped open the laundry room door, flipped on the light switch and called her name.

Not waiting for her to answer, he headed back to the truck to grab an armload of grocery bags. When he returned, and walked through the laundry room, he stepped into a dark kitchen. “Rosie?”

Where the hell was she? Badger flipped on the kitchen light with his elbow and placed the bags on the counter. He glanced into the den, noticing the lights were off in there too. Shit, maybe she was asleep in the bedroom, but she usually left the end table light on. If she was sleeping, maybe he had a shot at not having to do battle with her and instead get some quality time in.

With his fingers crossed, Badger headed back out to the truck and grabbed the remaining bags. After muscling them into the house, he set them next to the others and began the unpacking and putting away routine. He’d let her sleep, safer that way and the best way to increase his odds of a drama free night.

When he got everything sorted and in its place, he pulled a beer from the fridge and headed for their bedroom.
Their bedroom
…he hadn’t thought about it that way before. For over three weeks she’d been in his home—his bed. For over three weeks she’d been part of his daily life, night and day. Rosie had given him a taste of something he hadn’t even known he was missing: A real relationship. Plus, she’d fulfilled every sexual fantasy he ever had.

Yeah, it was their bed. It was their bedroom. It was their home.

Badger kept his steps light as he walked into the room. It was dark, and rather than turn on the light, he slipped onto the bed. “Rosie?” he whispered and reached for her.

But she wasn’t there.

What the fuck? Badger rolled over and turned on the bedside lamp. He glanced around, not quite understanding what was going on. He stepped out of the room and systematically checked the spare bedroom and his office.

Nothing.

He continued down the hall, calling her name and getting no response. Shit, he hadn’t thought about it, but maybe she’d fallen asleep in the formal living room on the couch. She’d taken to sitting in there, with only the lights from the Christmas tree illuminating the room. Badger ran into the dark room. The Christmas tree wasn’t lit and there was no Rosie, either.

Baffled, he stood for a moment, hands propped on his hips. Had she left him? No way she’d just leave him. Not with the threat of Alva— Oh God!

Panic lanced Badger’s veins like an ice pick as he stared at the empty couch. He was not a man who overreacted or jumped to conclusions. Ever. But in that moment, his brain was doing a figure eight on the assumption and conclusion track, rounding each corner at breakneck speed.

He needed to calm down. He needed to think rationally…he needed to see if her things were still there. Pivoting, he walked, at an overly swift pace, to the bathroom. After flipping on the light, Badger pulled open the top drawer where she stored her makeup. It was all there. Thank fuck…she hadn’t left him.

Women didn’t just up and leave without their makeup, right? Clothes maybe, but not their facial essentials. Even
his
woman, who didn’t pack on the face paint. He blew out a relieved breath as he braced his hands on the counter and closed his eyes.

When he opened them he spotted a folded note taped to the mirror. As if everything had gone into slow motion, Badger reached forward and peeled the piece of yellow notebook paper from the glass. Backing up, his boots hit the side of the bathtub and he sat his ass down on the edge and read.

B
adger
,

I know you’re going to be mad. But please don’t be. If you’re reading this then that means you either got home earlier than expected and I’m not back yet, or you’re home when you’re supposed to be and likely, he didn’t keep his word and obviously I failed to convince him that I didn’t have his money and that he should leave me alone. By him, I mean Alvaro.

H
oly shit
! Was she fucking insane?
Badger got to his feet and stormed to the kitchen as equal parts fear and anger pulsed through him, making his heart race.

Y
ou’re mad
. I know it. Please, don’t be mad. Please, honey? I needed to do this and I knew there was no way you’d let me. But the thing is, I didn’t keep my word to him, either. He told me to bring the money and I didn’t. Fuck him. No way in hell I’d let that bastard have the money back.

This is when I have to come clean and apologize. I’m sorry I lied to you. Obviously you now know that I did have the money. I’ve had it the whole time.

T
he woman was killing him
. Badger stood in the kitchen and ran his palm over his short hair. He’d known she was lying about the money, but he sure as fuck hadn’t figured on her confessing like this.

I
don’t know
why I lied exactly, which sounds pretty lame now that I’m writing it, but it’s the truth. I know you’re probably thinking you have no reason to believe anything I ever tell you again, but please know, that’s the only thing I ever lied to you about.

I took the money right when I was heading out of town. I don’t know why I did that, either, except that maybe now I’ve realized that I didn’t want anyone to have it.

It’s dirty money. But not only that, it’s also blood money. Which is a trillion times worse, in my opinion. And, as stupid as Joey was, my husband lost his life over it.

You might be surprised to know I never spent a dime. But if you know me as well as I think you do, maybe not. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter I guess. But I just hid it when I got here and went on with my life. That’s why I went back to stripping. The trip out from CT plus setting up home here broke my small savings and when you weren’t hiring for the bar or waiting tables, I went back to the stage. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this now…I guess in some way I’m hoping, in case you don’t get it, it’ll help you understand me better.

From the first day that I met you, you took my breath away. But on that first day, when I’d told you I’d go for the stage, I saw the look in your eyes change from a gaze I felt on my skin as if you were touching me, to one of shame. Well, I have to tell you, honey, I was ashamed of myself, too. The last thing I ever wanted was to be back up on that damn stage.

And yeah, maybe I could’ve walked out of Deuce’s that day and found another bar that would’ve hired me as a bartender, rather than making the choice I did. At the time, I should have.

But if I had done that, I never would’ve gotten to have you.

I love you, Drew. Have fallen, completely and totally, madly in love with you. And I wish I’d been able to tell you that in person and not in this letter. But there it is. And it doesn’t even matter if you feel the same. You gave me something I’d never had with anyone. Not even Joey.

You let me be a queen, (even a drama one) because you are my true and one and only king.

You let me be strong, by being my rock. You were my lighthouse in the storm, my guide that I could count on. A solid foundation of strength, so that when I needed to be weak, I could be.

Please know, there aren’t enough words to express how grateful I am to have had that. You made it possible to breathe easy for the first time in my life. Even with the threat of Alvaro constantly looming.

All I can say is, thank you.

With all my heart,

Your Rosie.

P
s
: The money is located in Glendale Discount Storage, unit 1325. The key is taped to the bottom of my makeup drawer. Take the money—do something good with it. Maybe it’ll somehow make all of this right.

I love you.

A
s soon as
Badger stepped onto the back patio, he lit a cigarette. Tossing the pack down on the table, he pulled his phone from his pocket and called up Alvaro’s contact info. After hitting “Call Contact” on the screen, he pressed the phone to his ear.

“My friend. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t hear from you.”

Alvaro’s condescending tone of voice set Badger’s blood boiling hotter than fresh lava. “Put her on the phone. Now.”

“As you wish.”

Badger took a drag from his smoke as he waited. The guy could take his high and mighty and go get himself fucked in hell. Badger was all too willing to show him the way.

“Ouch! That fucking hurt!” Rosie yelled.

Badger gritted his teeth at the sound of her voice in the background. He wanted to scream her name, but knew Alvaro would only get off on it. Badger wasn’t about to give the bastard the satisfaction of knowing he had a full gamut of emotions flying through his mind, making him physically shake.

“Mrs. Santini, behave, please. Else I will be forced to make you tolerable once again if you continue to conduct yourself in this manner. Now…there is someone who wishes to speak with you.”

A growl escaped and Badger cleared his throat to stifle it. “Just hand her the phone, asshole.”

“Yes, yes. Patience, Mr. Baxter.”

“Yeah, ye—”

“Badger!”

“I’m here. You okay?”

“More or less.”

Less? “Yeah. Okay. Got it.” Hell fucking no. Another growl surfaced and Badger took a drag from his smoke. “Don’t worry, we clear? I’ll handle it.”

She let out a sigh. “Yeah, we’r— Hey! I wasn’t done! Damn you!”

Obviously Alvaro had taken the phone back from her. Badger could here her voice growing distant as the asshole was probably walking away from her. Motherfucking-sonofabitch! Badger was so going to make the bastard suffer for this. “If you harm even one hair on her head—”

“She does have such pretty hair.” Alvaro tsk’d at him. “Would be a shame…but…in order to avoid harm to all those nice dark locks, I do believe a negotiation is in order. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Name the terms, asshole. I got shit to do.” Badger’s skin itched to beat Alvaro until he choked on his own blood. Badger would play the game for now and set the stage.

Rosie would be coming home to Badger, breathing and in one perfect piece—although when he was done tanning her ass for making such a stupid mistake, she wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week, maybe more.

In the end, there would be no fucking negotiation with Alvaro—not once all was said and done. What there would be was one dead drug-dealing scumbag and his disposable sidekicks.